The U.S. barely places in the top 10 of a list that Asia and Europe dominate.

Countries With Fastest Internet

(Ed Jones/AFP/Getty Images)

High-speed internet is a necessity for millions of people around the world, whether at home or at work. And although the global economy is increasingly dependent on innovation and connectivity, many countries have nothing more than the most basic internet access, according to Akamai, one of the largest content delivery network providers in the world.

The average global internet connectivity speed was 7.2 megabits per second (Mbps) in the first quarter of 2017, a 15 percent increase from the same time frame in 2016, according to a report from Akamai.

Half of the 10 countries with the fastest internet are in Europe, four are in the Asia-Pacific region and just one is in the Americas. Here are the top 10, according to the Akamai report. The list includes territories that are part of nations.

10. United States

(Christopher Cunningham for USN&WR)

The average internet connectivity speed in the U.S. was 18.7 Mbps during the first quarter of 2017, a 22 percent year-over-year increase. Within the U.S., Washington, D.C., has the fastest internet speed, followed by Delaware and Massachusetts.

9. Denmark

(Heine Pedersen)

The average connectivity speed in Denmark is 20.1 Mbps, a slight decrease from the last quarter of 2016, but still a 17 percent increase from the first quarter of 2016. Denmark, which places 12th overall in U.S. News’ Best Countries rankings, has a population of more than 5.6 million and serves as a major gateway between Northern Europe and the rest of the world.

8. Japan

(Shizuo Kambayashi/AP Photo)

In Japan, the average internet connectivity speed is 20.2 Mbps, 11 percent higher than the same time frame in 2016. The country is highly regarded for its power, entrepreneurship and cultural influence, placing fifth overall in the Best Countries ranking.

7. Singapore

(National University of Singapore)

The average connectivity speed of 20.3 Mbps makes Singapore the country with the greatest year-over-year increase in internet speed in the Asia-Pacific region, with speeds 23 percent faster than the same time frame in 2016. The island city-state is one of the wealthiest nations in the world and ranks 15th overall in the Best Countries ranking.

6. Finland

(David Goldman/AP Photo)

The average internet connectivity speed is 20.5 Mbps, a 15 percent increase from the same period in 2016. Finland, an international leader in education and press freedom, ranks highly in the Best Countries ranking because of its citizens’ entrepreneurship and quality of life.

5. Switzerland

(Getty Images)

Switzerland’s citizens have an average connectivity speed of 21.7 Mbps, a 16 percent year-over-year growth. Switzerland, which places first in the Best Countries ranking, centers its economy on highly developed financial services and high-tech manufacturing sectors.

4. Hong Kong

(Kin Cheung/AP Photo)

The internet connectivity speed in Hong Kong – a mostly autonomous territory on China’s southeastern coast – is 21.9 Mbps, 10 percent higher than the same time frame in 2016. Democracy and free speech activists in Hong Kong have for years clashed with leadership in China, which places 20th overall in the Best Countries ranking and has some of the world’s tightest restrictions on internet usage and media freedom.

2. Norway

(Mike Crane/iStock)

The average connection speed in Norway is 23.5 Mbps, a 10 percent increase from the first quarter of 2016. Norway, the westernmost Scandinavian nation, places 10th overall in the Best Countries ranking for its quality of life and citizenship.

1. South Korea

(Ed Jones/AFP/Getty Images)

South Korea tops the list with connectivity speeds of 28.6 Mbps, despite a 1.7 percent decline from the same time frame in 2016. An estimated 40 percent of the population has connectivity speeds above 25 Mbps, compared with 12 percent of the global population.

2018 Best Countries

Best Countries is a rankings, news and analysis project created to capture how countries are perceived on a global scale. The rankings evaluate 80 countries across 24 rankings drawn from a survey of more than 21,000 global citizens, measuring 75 dimensions that have the potential to drive trade, travel and investment and directly affect national economies.